Machine for forming conical wire springs



(No Mode 1.) Y

G. W. PIS H'ERING.

I MACHINE FOR FORMING GONIGAL WIRE SPRINGS. I No. 292,799. Patented Feb 5, 1884.

, h qh f n. PETERS. Pmwumu n iw. Washingluu. o, c

' U ITED STATES PA ENT Grease.

MACl-IINE FOR FORMING CQ NICAL WIRE SPRINGS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent 1%.292'399, dated February 5, 1884.

Application filed October lf), 1883. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE W. FISHERING, a citizen of the United States, residing at Allegheny, in the county of' Allegheny and State 5 of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Machines for Forming Conical Wire Springs, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in 1 machines for forming or coiling conical spiral metallic springs in pairs, in which the two springs that form the pair are alike and side by side, and are formed by a single wire, which connects them at their bases; and the objects I of my improvements are, first, to afford facilities for coiling the wire from each end by the agency of a single person by first forming one spring of the pair on a conical grooved mandrel, then the other on a similar mandrel, each 23 mandrel being j ournaled at fixed distances apart, about equal to the distance required between the springs of each pair when completed; second,to provide means of rotating both mandrels from .the same drive shaft; third, to

'2 5 provide a press-block for holding the wire of the spring first coiled in the grooves of the mandrel, and at the same time looking the mandrel, so as to preventit from uncoiling while the other spring is being coiled on the other mandrel; fourth, to providemeans of receiving the ends of the wire in the mandrels, so as to form a loop or eye at the end of the wire, so that the end will be retained while the remainder of the wire is being coiled, and also that the spring may be easily released when completed. I attain these obj ects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a top plan of the machine showing the position of shafts and pinions as it appears when coiling the first spring of the pair. Fig. 2 is a top-plan of the machine showing the position of shafts and pinions as it appears when coiling the second spring of the pair. Fig. 3 is a side elevation. Figs. 4 and 5 are respectively a plan and elevation of a completed spring.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The letter A represents a metallic frame, which, with its bearings a and caps b, constitutes the support for the working parts, it being provided with suitable holes in the base, so that it can be secured and attached to a suitable bench or table.

B B are conical mandrels, fixed each, respectively, with their base ends to the shafts O 0, each mandrel havinga spiral groove, 1), formed in its exterior, terminating at the small end with a shoulder, d. The shafts O G are journaled in suitable bearings in the frame A, and provided each,respectively,with a pinion, D D,which gear with a spur'pinion, E, which is carried on a shaft, F. The shaft F is also journaled in suitable bearings in the frame A, and rotated by means of a crank, A. The shaft F isprovided with two circumferential flanges or guards, c 0, both of which may be fixed at either end of theshaft, but preferably at the end to which the crank is attached, and the distance between them being about equal to twice the thickness of the spur-pinion E, so as to allow the pinion E to free itself entirely from the pinion D'and remain in gear with the pinion D as the shaft F is caused to slide forward longitudinally.

G is a bar having one end pivoted at d directly under the shaft 0, and projecting in the same direction, passing through and extendingbeyond the slot 0 in the frame A a distance about one-third the length of the mandrel B.

f is an upright tooth secured to the bar G directly under the pinion D.

g is a block secured to the end of the bar G,

surface of the .mandrel B.

H is a rod attached to the bar Gr under the block g, the lower end of which may be secured to an ordinary foot-pedal, by means of whichthe bar G may be raised, so as to press the press-block g firmly against the mandrel B, at the same time forcing the tooth f between the teeth of the pinion D, thus locking the shaft and preventing it from revolving,'and the press block preventing the wire of the spring from uncoiling while the other spring is being formed on the mandrel B.

a a are pins secured firmly in the apexes of the mandrels B B, around which the wire I is bent, so as to form a loop or eye,c'.

In operationthe wire I is cut to a proper having its upper side concaved, so as to fit the length, and one end inserted in the recess be tween the pin a and shoulder d of the mandrel B. The operator by means of the crank A holds the shaft F so that the spur-pinion E gears with the pinion D, as shown in Fig. 1. Then by inserting the end of the wire in the apex of the mandrel B, and holding the wire rigid by hand, and by rotating the mandrel B, the loop or eye a is formed, and the end of the wire is thus retained while the remainder of the spring is being formed in the groove 1) of the mandrel B. After sufficient wire has been coiled to form one of the springs, the operator by hearing on the foot-pedal forces the pressbloek 9 against the mandrel B, thus holding the wire in the grooves to prevent it from uneoiling, and also forcing the tooth f between the teeth of the pinion D, so as to prevent the shaft 0 from revolving, as shown in Fig. 3. Then by sliding the shaft F forward longitudinally by means of the crank, so that the spurpinion E passes out of gear with the pinion D and remains in gear with the pinion D, as shown in Fig. 2, the remainder of the wire, excepting the central part, (indicated by the dotted lines,) is coiled on the mandrel D in the same manner as 011 the mandrel D. By raising the foot from the pedal the press-block and the tooth f drop by gravity, and the coils may be easily removed from the inandrels, and will be as shown in Figs. 4 and b.

I do not confine myself to the exact position of pinions as shown, as they may be fixed in such relation to each other that when the spurpinion E is in gear with either one of the pinions D D it will be out of gear with the other. Thus each mandrel would be rotated independently of the other. But when in this position, after the first spring has been formed on the mandrel B, and after the press-block has been applied, there is some difficulty in entering the spur-pinion in the pinion D.

the position as shown is preferred.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s 7 1. In a machine for forming conical wire springs, the combination, with the conical grooved mandrelsB B and shafts O 0, having pinions, respectively, D D, of the shaft F,having spur-pinion E and guards c c, and arranged to slide backward and forward longitudinally, whereby one or each of said mandrels may be rotated independently of the other to form both coils of a conical spiral twin spring from one drive-shaft, substantially as described, and for the purpose specified.

2. In a machine for forming conical wire springs, the combination, with the conical grooved mandrels B B and shafts G C, having pinons, respectively, D D, and sliding shaft F, of the hinged bar G, having upright tooth f, secured thereto, adapted to enter between the teeth of the pinion D, substantially as described, and for the purpose specified.

3. Ina machine for forming conical wire springs. the combination. with the conical grooved mandrels B B and shafts G O, having pinions, respectively, D D, and sliding shaft F, of the bar G, having a press-block, g, secured to the end, adapted to press the wire in the groove of the mandrel D, substantially as described, and for the purpose specified.

G. \V. FISHERING.

Witnesses:

A. E. XVELLs, W. A. MoNULTY.

Therefore I 

